Engine compartment access and inspection doors



E. V. HOPKINS Aug. w, 3960 ENGINE COMPARTMENT ACCESS AND INSPECTION DOORS Filed June 12, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1-INVENTOE'I- EQEL V HoPK/Ns 5Y1,W

Aug. 30, 1960 E. v. HOPKINS 3 5 ENGINE COMPARTMENT ACCESS AND INSPECTION DOORS Filed June 12, 1957 5 Sheets$heet 2 1 lNVEA/TOI? Eera HOPK/MS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 E. V. HOPKINS ENGINE COMPARTMENT ACCESS AND INSPECTION nooas Aug. 30, 1960 Filed June 12, 1957 O 54 av m lA/VENTOI? lie/a V HOPK/NS 5Y1. fi

Aug. 30, 1961) E. v. HOPKINS ENGINE COMPARTMEINT ACCESS AND INSPECTION DOORS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 12, 1957 T W T w m. WV 1 x e u E Y 5 1960 E. v. HOPKINS 2,950,692

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ENGINE COMPARTMENT ACCESS AND INSPECTION DOORS Earl V. Hopkins, San Carlos, Califi, assignor to The Youngstown Steel Door Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a

This invention relates generally to access and inspection doors for engine compartments of mechanical refrigerator cars and more particularly to the construction and association of such doors with the grab iron structure of the cars and to the means for securing the doors in full open and closed positions.

It is an object of this invention to provide access and inspection doors for engine compartments of mechanical refrigerator cars which shall be sturdy in construction and So mounted on the outside of the car sides as not to encroach on the established tunnel clearances.

A further object is to provide access and inspection doors for engine compartments of mechanical refrigerator cars which when in closed position shall lie between the car sides and the grab iron structure of the cars so as to be protected by the latter.

A further object is to provide access and inspection doors for engine compartments of mechanical refrigerator cars which when in closed position shall lie between the car sides and the grab iron structure of the cars wherein the grab iron structure shall be so constructed as not to interfere with the removal and replacement of the engines in the compartments.

A further object is to provide access and inspection doors for engine compartments of mechanical refrigerator cars embodying grab iron structure formed of stiles and grab irons wherein said structure is so disposed that it serves as a stop for the doors.

A further object is to provide access and inspection doors for engine compartments of mechanical refrigera tor cars which shall carry a locking device on its rear margin capable of locking the door in both closed and open positions.

Other objects of the invention will become clear as the description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings forming part of this specification:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a mechanical refrigerator car embodying the instant invention, the door being shown in closed and locked position.

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing the door in full open and locked position.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 66 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on line 77 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation showin the locking device on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section taken on line 10-40 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section similar to Fig. 10 showin g the door unlocked.

Fig. 12 is a vertical section taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 shows a portion of a mechanical refrigerator car. A door opening 11 is formed in one side of the car adjacent to an end thereof which leads to a compartment (not shown) adapted to house a diesel engine and refrigeration equipment for the car. The door opening 11 is defined by means of front and rear vertical posts 12 and 13, by an angle header 14 and by the channel sub sill 15.

The door opening 11 is adapted to be closed by a door 16. This door embodies a metallic panel 17 formed with horizontally spaced vertical series of fixed louvres 18 and 19. The front and rear vertical margins of the panel 17 are reinforced by bath-tub shaped members 26 and 21 secured to the panel in any desired manner. These vertical reinforcing members extend between and are secured to the outwardly extending legs 22 and 23 of angle reinforcing members 24 and 25 secured in any desired manner to the upper and lower margins of the panel. The metallic panel 17 is also reinforced between the marginal reinforcing members 20 and 21 by a substantially bathtub-shaped vertical reinforcement 26 which is also secured to the upper and lower angle reinforcing members 24 and 25.

The door is mounted for sliding movement upon the outside of the car side. For this purpose a track 27 in the form of a plate member placed on edge and secured to the side sill by means of a plurality of spaced brackets 28 is utilized. The track 27 which is disposed below the door opening 11 embodies a section 29 which lies parallel to the car side, a section 39 which slopes outwardly and rearwardly relative to the car side adjacent to the rear door post 13 and a section 31 which lies parallel to the car side. Rollers 32 carried by brackets 33 secured adjacent to the lower corners of the door serve to mount the door upon the track. The brackets 33 are formed with depending extensions 34 and 35 which lie on opposite sides of the track 27.

Structure is provided for retaining the upper portion of the door upon the car side. For this purpose a Z-shaped door retainer 36 is secured to the car side above the door opening 11. The retainer 36 embodies a vertical depending flange 37 which lies in outwardly overlapping relationship with upwardly extending guide and retaining members '38 and 39. These members, as is more clearly shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, are V-shaped in section and are arranged so that the apex of the V extends outwardly.

A member 40 which is V-shaped in section as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings and arranged with the apex of the V extending inwardly is secured to the inner face of the depending flange 37 of the door retainer adjacent to the rear door post 13. Also secured to the car side above the door opening is an angle member 41 having outwardly extending flange 42 which terminates short of the depending flange 37 of the door retainer so as to provide a space within which the guide and retaining members 38 and 39 are received. The forward end of the flange 42 of the angle member 41 which lies directly above the door opening is sloped as indicated at 43 so that it lies parallel and in spaced relation to the adjacent branch of the V-shaped member 40. As shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings the depending flange 37 beginning at a point opposite the sloping portion of flange 42 and extending to the front door post 12 slopes inwardly toward the car side.

It will be apparent from Fig. 5 of the drawings that when the door 16 is in closed position it lies in engagement withthe car side. In the movement of the door a r 7 3 toward open position it becomes necessary, therefore, that the door be moved outwardly away from the car side in order to avoid fouling of the door on the projecting rivet heads in the car side. This is accomplished by the track, the roller brackets and the door retainer structure described immediately above. It will be seen from Fig. 5 of the drawings that as the door moves rearwardly to 'open position the depending extensions 34' of the rear roller bracket will engage the outwardly and rearwardly inclined portion 39 of the door track and member 3? at the upper margin of the door will engage the sloping portion 43 of the flange 42 to carry the rear portion of the door outwardly away from the car side. Also as the forward portion of the door approaches the rear of the door opening during this movement of the door the member 38 secured to the upper margin of the door will engage the V-shaped member 40 secured to'the depending flange of the door retainer 36 and be guided thereby into engagement with the sloping portion 43 of flange 42 so as to move the forward portion of the door away from the car side.

To position the door as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings when the door is being closed the forward portion of the door is forced toward the car side by the engagement between the depending portion 35 of the front roller bracket and the sloping section of the door' track and by the engagement between the member 38 at the upper margin of the door and the rear branch of the V-shaped member 49 secured to the depending flange 37 of the door retainer 36. As the door approaches its closed position the forward portion of the door is maintained in proper relationship to the car side by means of the inwardly sloping portion of the depending flange 37. At this time also the depending portion of the rear door hanger will engage the sloping portion 30 of.

the door track and the member 39 secured to the upper margin of the door will engage the noted branch of the V-shaped member 40 carried by the depending flange 37 to force the rear portion. of the door against the car side.

Grab iron structure is provided on each side of the car. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5-of the drawings the grab iron structure which is provided on the side of the car that carries the door 16 extends vertically across the door opening. The invention utilizes the grab iron structure in order to provide protection for the door when it is in closedposition.

It will be noted from Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings that the grab iron structure embodies a substantially channelshaped stile 4- rigidly secured as by means of rivets V and 46 to upper and lower bracket members 47 and 43. These bracket members in turn are releasably secured to the door header 14 by means of bolts 49 and to the door track 27 by means of bolts 50. The brackets 47 and 48 serve to space the stile outwardly from the 'car side so as to provide room for movement of the door 16 between the car side and the grab iron structure.

The latter also embodies vertically spaced grab irons 51 and '52 which are rigidly secured as by means of rivets 53 and '54 to the stile 44.. The grab irons 51 and 52 are also rigidly secured in a similar manner to flanges 55 of Z-shape d bracket members 56. These bracket members also embody inwardly extending webs 57 and forwardly extending'flanges 58 which are releasably secured to the front door post by means of bolts 59.

it will be apparent from the foregoing description of the grab iron structure that while it serves its normal function and the additional function of protecting the door 16 when in closed' position, it is readily removable as a unit from the car side in order to permit removal and replacement of the engine and refrigeration mechanism if necessary. Moreover, the construction 'of the grab ,iron' structure is such that the brackets 56 are made toserve as the, front stop for the'door 16 so that they limitltheclosing. movement ofthe door.

The instant invention also includes a locking device for the door which is so designed and constructed that it serves to lock the door both in closed and open positions. The locking device which is designated generally by the reference numeral 6%) embodies in a unitary construction a bracket 61 which is open at the front and rear as indicated at 62 and 63. Within this bracket a locking lever 64 is piv ot ally mounted by means of a pin 65 so that it is swingable in a horizontal plane. The lockin ver 64' embodies a relatively long arm 66 V and a relatively short angularly related arm 67' which is adapted to extend through a slot 63 formed in the rear margin of the door and into locking engagement with a rubber pad 69 carried by the rear door post 13. It will be apparent fronrthe foregoing that'the locking device is mounted on the rear margin of thedoor and that the bracket 51 spans the slot formed in the rear margin of the door.

A hook-shaped catch 70 is pivotally mounted upon the bracket 61' by means of a pin 71 for swinging movement in a vertical plane. The catch 70 is provided with an outwardly extending flange 72 which lies above the lower edge 73 of the catch. The portion of the catch extend ing from this edge to the flange 72 accordingly constitutes a flange 7 which is adapted when the catch is suspended in vertical position to lie behind a substantially channelshaped abutment 75 carried by the bracket 61. The flange 72 is formed with a seal slot 76 which is adapted to aline with a seal slot 77 formed in the web 78 of the substantially channel-shaped abutment 75 when the catch is in vertical position.

The locking device is shown in its locking position in Fig. l() of the drawings. At this time the arm 67 of the locking lever is engaged with the member 69 and the catch 7% lies in its suspended vertical position with the flange 74 disposed behind the abutment 75. In this position the catch 74 extends across and forwardly of the arm 66 of the locking lever 74 so as to prevent the ment between the arm 67 and the member 69 'is thereby maintained.

When it is desired to unlock the door so that it can be moved to open position the seal (not shown) which ordinarily would extend through the aligned seal slots 76 and '71 is removed and'the catch is swung in clockiwise direction to the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 8 of the drawings. In this position the catch is supported by a shoulder 79 formed on the bracket 61. The locking lever 64 is now swung toward the right as viewed in Fig; lO'until the arm 67 takes the position shown in Fig. 11 where it lies outwardly of'the main plane of the door. The door may then be readily moved to open position and in this movement the outing movement of the door the nose .81 of the catch will be disengaged from the wall 32 so that'the catch will fall until the hook-shaped portion thereof lies behind the wall 82. In this manner therdoor is prevented from moving in closing direction until the catch is manually disengaged from the wall 8 2. Thus by its construction the locking device serves to lock the door in both closed and open positions. 7 7

It will be apparent that numerous changes and modifications in the details of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. It is intended therefore that all such modifications and changes he comprehended within this invention which is to be limited only of theclaims appended hereto.

by the scope I claim:

1. In a mechanical refrigerator car, an engine compartment accessible through an opening in a side of said car, said compartment being defined in width by front and rear stiles, a horizontally slidable door mounted on the outside of said car side for closing said access opening, a stile removably secured to said car side above and below said compartment and between said front and rear stiles, said removable stile lying in outwardly spaced relationship to said car side, vertically spaced brackets removably secured to said front stile and extending outwardly from said car side, grab irons extending between and secured to said removable stile and brackets in outwardly spaced relationship to said car side, said door being slidable to closed position between said car side and said removable stile and grab irons.

2. In a mechanical refrigerator car, an engine compartment accessible through an opening in a side of said car, said compartment being defined in width by front and rear stiles, a horizontally slidable door mounted on the outside of said car side for closing said access opening, a stile removably secured to said car side above and below said compartment and between said front and rear stiles, said removable stile lying in outwardly spaced relationship to said car side, vertically spaced brackets removably secured to said front stile and extending outwardly from said car side, grab irons extending between and secured to said removable stile and brackets in outwardly spaced relationship to said car side, said door being slidable to closed position between said car side and said removable stile and grab irons, said door in closing engaging said brackets, whereby the closing of said door is stopped.

3. In a mechanical refrigerator car, an engine compartment accessible through an opening in a side of said car, said compartment being defined in width by front and rear stiles, a door track secured to said car below said compartment in outwardly spaced relationship to said car side, a door retainer secured to said car above said compartment and extending outwardly from said car side, a horizontally slidable door mounted on said track for closing the access opening, said retainer overlapping the top portion of said door, vertically spaced brackets removably secured to said front stile, a stile removably secured to said car side above and below said compartment and between said front and rear stiles, said removable stile lying in outwardly spaced relationship to said car side, grab irons extending between and secured to said brackets and removable stile in outwardly spaced relationship to said car side, said door when closed lying against said car side inwardly of and between said car side and said removable stile and grab irons, means on said track, retainer and car side for guiding said door away from said car side during opening movement thereof, and means on said track and retainer for guiding said door behind siad removable stile and grab irons and against said car side in the closing movement of said door.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 791,742 Vogel June 6, 1905 1,376,350 Neumann et al. Apr. 26, 1921 1,758,070 Barrows May 13, 1930 2,209,308 Delanty July 30, 1940 2,220,400 Faris Nov. 5, 1940 2,596,792 Robinson May 13, 1952 2,722,722 Mussman Nov. 8, 1955 2,732,919 Johnson Jan. 31, 1956 2,789,671 Sigler et a1. Apr. 23, 1957 

